2007 Senate Bill 727 / 2008 Public Act 188

Expand commercial/industrial groundwater restrictions and regulations

Introduced in the Senate

Sept. 5, 2007

Introduced by Sen. Ray Basham (D-8)

To require the Department of Environmental Quality to evaluate the impact of a proposed waterworks system for new municipal community water supply systems that withdraw more than 1 million gallons of groundwater per day. Under current law, the DEQ may but is not required to evaluate systems that would withdraw more than 2 million gallons per day. The bill is part of a legislative package consisting of Senate Bills 721 to 729 and House Bills 5065 to 5073 that would restrict and subject to extensive regulation the use of groundwater by industrial and commercial businesses.

Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs

March 4, 2008

Reported without amendment

With the recommendation that the substitute (S-3) be adopted and that the bill then pass.

May 14, 2008

Substitute offered

To replace the previous version of the bill with one that revises the law on water bottler's permits.

The substitute passed by voice vote

Passed in the Senate 38 to 0 (details)

To lower the threshold for requiring bottled water producers to get a state permit from pumping more than 250,000 gallons per day to 100,000 gallons for water sold outside the Great Lakes basis, and 200,000 if sold within the basin. Permit applications would have to include an evaluation of existing environmental, hydrological, and hydrogeological conditions and the predicted hydrologic effects of the intended withdrawal.

Received in the House

May 14, 2008

Referred to the Committee on Great Lakes and Environment

June 24, 2008

Reported without amendment

With the recommendation that the substitute (H-1) be adopted and that the bill then pass.

Substitute offered

To replace the previous version of the bill with one that revises details but does not change the substance of the bill as previously described.

The substitute passed by voice vote

Passed in the House 104 to 4 (details)

To lower the threshold for requiring bottled water producers to get a state permit from pumping more than 250,000 gallons per day to 100,000 gallons for water sold outside the Great Lakes basis, and 200,000 if sold within the basin. Permit applications would have to include an evaluation of existing environmental, hydrological, and hydrogeological conditions and the predicted hydrologic effects of the intended withdrawal.

Received in the Senate

June 25, 2008

Passed in the Senate 36 to 0 (details)

To concur with the House-passed version of the bill.

Signed by Gov. Jennifer Granholm

July 9, 2008